General InformationSurname DNA testing is the newest tool available to genealogists. These tests help genealogists verify their paternal ancestry (father's father) in a quick and easy way. It saves time, prevents mistakes, and provides invaluable data that can be obtained in no other way.The Purpose of the Pugh Surname DNA Project is to:1. Help researchers on common or related families work together to find their common heritage (See the Patriarch Page)2. Identify the DNA of the ancestor families and compile them and their lost branches into distinct genetic lineages through DNA matches Some Useful Links:World Families Network ForumsPugh Family ForumPedigree ForumWorld Families Network General DiscussionClick here to order a DNA test nowPugh Project Background Interest in the FTDNA Pugh Surname Project began in March of 2006 when a few descendants of Lewis Pugh (ca.1670-1741) of Merionethshire, Wales wondered if more could be determined about Lewis’ ancestry through DNA analysis. Many Pugh lines can be traced back to Merioneth, and some still exist there. Some of the early Pugh lines in America are well documented as they were Quakers and good records still exist. James M. Pugh (c.a.1665-1724) also of Merioneth, arrived in America in 1682 with the first wave of immigrants to William Penn’s new colony which we now know as Pennsylvania. Other Pughs of the Quaker faith soon followed to escape religious persecution. There were James M. Pugh’s father, Evan Pugh (??-1704) and (by some accounts) his cousin, Ellis Pugh, Sr. (c.a.1656-1718). Evan’s younger brother (by some accounts), Robert ap Hugh (c.a.1660-1717) arrived at William Penn’s new colony in 1698. Some branches of the early Pennsylvania Pugh lines migrated southward into Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina while others remained in the area surrounding Philadelphia. Jesse Pugh (1711-1794) who was Ellis and Sinah Pugh’s grandson is credited as being the founder and leader of the Back Creek Valley Quaker settlement in Frederick County, VA. The Back Creek Meeting was established on December 24, 1759. Jesse was very active in assisting other Pennsylvania Quakers in their move to Frederick County. Among those settlers were representatives of the other early Pennsylvania Pugh lines mentioned above. To date, we have only one known representative from the early Pennsylvania Pugh lines described above. He descends from Robert ap Hugh and Sarah Evans. We are looking forward to expanding the DNA database to gain a better understanding of what the family relationships were among these Pugh lines. Lewis Pugh (ca.1670-1741) emigrated from Wales to Richmond County, VA in 1695. He married Ann (maiden name unknown) in 1704. Their children were all born in Richmond County, VA and were baptized in the Anglican Church. In 1731 Lewis Pugh and his eldest son, John Pugh, traveled back to South Wales. Lewis is believed to have died there. In 1740, the second son of Lewis and Ann, David Pugh, also traveled back to Wales. It is not known if the two elder sons of Lewis and Ann Pugh had families before they left for Wales. We are trying to sort out the descendants of the couple and DNA testing holds great potential for resolving this question. We have already discovered much about the descendants of Lewis and Ann in America. It can be presumed that descendants of Lewis Pugh and other progenitors of our Pugh lines are currently living in Wales; a campaign is being planned to bring some of these Welsh people into our DNA project. Also in colonial times, a Francis Pugh (c.a. 1630-??) from Glendower, Caernarvonshire, Wales settled in Virginia. He came to Jamestown in 1666 and his descendants migrated to North Carolina; quite a bit is known about his line as well. We do not currently have a known descendant of Francis in the Pugh Project. There are a number of other Pugh lines and many Pugh researchers have traced their lines as far back as the 1800s only to hit a brick wall. We know that there are many Pugh lines in America that connect somewhere in history and there are Pugh lines around the world that likely trace their roots back to Wales. The primary purpose of the Pugh Project is to learn as much as we can about all of the Pugh lines that have participants in the DNA study and to see if we can make some connections to guide us in further research. We wish to invite anyone with the PUGH surname and all its variants (PEW, PEUGH, POUGH, PUE, APHUGH, APHEW, HUGHES, etc.) to join this project. Any male can participant who either carries the surname or who is believed to be paternally descended from a man who carried the surname. If you are female, you can have a male PUGH (or variant) relative submit a sample for your line. To participate meaningfully, testees should be prepared to share their direct male line ancestry back to the earliest known PUGH (or variant) either in the form of a pedigree chart or, preferable, family group sheets (excluding living persons). This invitation extends to all people, those from the United States, Wales, England, Scotland, Canada, and Australia; just to name a few places where the surname can be found. Funds are available to help defray the cost of testing for those of certain known Pugh lines. Please contact the Group Administrator for more information. Thank you for your interest in the Pugh Surname DNA Project.